Gawad lost the first game but was able to take back control in the second, and after allowing the Indian to save two game balls in the third he took the victory 13-11 for an overall 6-11, 11-7, 13-11, 11-6. win

The Egyptian kept the momentum throughout the fourth game to seal his 300th Professional Squash Association (PSA) win.

"I’m feeling much better!" Gawad said.

"Playing Saurav is always tough, so playing him in my first match makes it even tougher.

"He is a good mover on court, very talented and makes you run a lot, with diagonals, forwards and backwards, so for me, it is always tough to play him.

"But, it is always enjoyable to play him too."

In a highly controversial battle, world number six Mostafa Asal of Egypt made it through to the next round after defeating compatriot Youssef Soliman in a 118-minute contest in the capital which ended 11-2, 11-8, 9-11, 4-11, 11-8.

Welshman Joel Makin ensured it wasn't an all-Egyptian affair as he defeated Omar Mosaad 12-10, 11-5, 11-13, 11-8 in 74 minutes.

France's Gregoire Marche became the first unseeded player to make it through to the quarter-finals of the men's tournament after defeating number eight seed Mazen Hesham 11-9, 13-11, 11-8.

"Winning 3-0 against Mazen, it’s not what I was expecting," said Marche.

"Every game was tough but I think I was a bit better mentally at the end of each game, not making any errors, which he did a bit too much today.

"I put enough pressure on him and I am happy with the way I moved, and I hit the ball in the corners today, so it was a good match."

Top seed Ali Farag of Egypt also reached the last eight with a straight games win, while second seed Paul Coll of New Zealand also prevailed.

Third seed Tarek Momen beat compatriot Youssef Ibrahim in an all-Egyptian affair that went the distance, with Momen winning 11-7, 11-9, 2-11, 10-12, 12-10.